“How did it go with Gerian?” Ystelyan asked when Takilyan teleported them into his throne room. “From the looks on your faces, not well.”

“It was unexpected,” Takilyan said thoughtfully. “But I wouldn’t say it went badly. Alison’s heart friend is on her way to Waldhafen and so is his heart friend. I think we’ll get the others soon.”

“That’s definitely not bad,” Ystelyan said. “So why are you frowning like that?”

Takilyan gave a heavy sigh and looked over Darlryan, who was lounging on one of the couches and who had looked up from the book he was reading when they appeared. “There’s no easy way to say this but he proved that Keylaria isn’t dead.”

“What?” The book went flying as Darlryan leapt to his feet. “How?”

“He had Kasi with him,” Takilyan said. â€œApparently Gerian found him a few years back but…”

Darlryan stared at Takilyan for a moment. “She’s alive?” He shook his head. “Why can’t I sense her? We have to find her before Xantaria does.”

“No doubt Gerian was demanding the same thing,” Ystelyan said dryly.

“He was,” Lydia said. “But I don’t know when we’ll have time to look for her.”

“No, you have a lot on your plate,” Darlryan agreed. “I’ll look for her. Would someone please make sure Alsia is told? I’d do it myself but I have no desire to be force fed my own internal organs.” He rubbed at his forehead. “This means something important. I know this means something, but I can’t seem to think what and I should be able to.” He started pacing. “I think I’m hiding it from myself.”

â€œAnd not until then,â€ Darlryan said. â€œI know, but I still feel as if it’s critically important.â€ He gave another sigh and sat back down. “And somehow I’m sure I won’t find her until I figure out what’s bothering me, and that worries me because it suggests I know more than I realise.”

“It’ll come to you,” Ystelyan said. “For now, I’ll send a message to Alsia.” He began forming an imp. “So what’s the rest of the plan for the raid to rescue Kayleigh-iatia? Wait for Indaturan, I assume?”

“We have to,” Darlyran said. “No one else can control that damned Kithreian witch and we need her as a guide.” He worried at his lip. “This is a very hairy plan, you know, relying on an enemy as a guide. Even bound as she is, she could easily lead us into a trap.”

“No argument here,” Darlyran said. “I just wanted to make sure you understand how risky this is.”

“We understand,” Karen said. “It’s one of those ‘wish we had a better plan’ situations, but we don’t.”

“We have enough firepower going that I don’t think we’re in danger.” Alaryia said the grinned as Karen and Lydia jumped. “I jumped in while you were talking. The biggest risk is to Kayleigh-iatia is if we don’t get to her before Xantaria.”